Unfortunately, summer time also means hail time and it's not just farmers and gardeners who suffer from thisunprotected plantsin the fields and gardens can be destroyed. Car owners who don't have a garage or carport are also worried. Special car covers are offered that are intended to provide protection. Some of them are even inflatable or in the form of canopies, called shelters. But what if the weather forecast predicts hail and you are unprepared and don't have time to get hail protection for your car? People's creativity knows no limits. That's why there are some fun solutions that will give you the last-minute protection you need. We'll show you some clever ideas that may look strange but will protect your car.
Hail protection for cars – How much hail can a car withstand?
Of course, hail protection for the car is not absolutely necessary if there are small hailstones. At what size of hail is damage to the car inevitable? First of all, it should be mentioned that not only the size of the hailstones plays a role, but also the strength of the wind that accompanies this natural phenomenon. Grains up to 0.5 cm in size are considered harmless. From a size of 1 to 1.5 cm things look different. Especially if gusts of wind occur that increase the falling speed of the hailstones, damage to paint and sheet metal can occur.
But since you can never be sure beforehand how big the hailstones will be, it's worth playing it safe. And in principle you can do everything quicklyuse from your household, which is soft and absorbs the impact. Grab wide electrical tape and one of the following supplies to put together the perfect last minute car hail protection:
cardboard
Admittedly,the cardboardwill be anything but pretty to look at, but your car will still be so even after the hail. So quickly get all the empty boxes out of the basement and use them to cover your car. You can use the insulating tape to secure the cardboard parts to the car.
Cover
The thick winter blanket doesn't have to be the same in our latitudes, because the hailstones don't get that big here. But the old summer or cuddly blankets and hand or bath towels, which can then be washed again and used as usual, are great protection for cars, mopeds etc. You can also simply place these over the entire vehicle, like the cardboard and fix it with the tape or by clamping them with the doors.
Other cushions such as the seat cushions on your garden chairs, the Hollywood swing or the outdoor carpet are also ideal.
Air mattresses as hail protection for cars
Should the hail protection for the car be inflatable? Especially if you are currently on a beach vacation, a hail protection blanket for your car will be the last thing you have packed. But now your vacation is suddenly disrupted by a storm that is supposed to be accompanied by hail? You probably have an air mattress ready that you can now use as a car cover.
But since one or two won't be enough, pick up a few more from the nearest store. There are plenty of them on the beach. And other inflatable accessories for the beach also prove to be effective! Both insulating tape and load straps are well suited for fixing.
Clever hail protection for the car with pool noodles
Pool noodles are the perfect optionto make a hail protection for your car that is exactly the right length for your vehicle. However, the idea requires a certain amount of preparation time and plenty of pool noodles. The few you already have at home won't be enough. Otherwise, you can then tie the collected noodles together like tree trunks in a raft.
Or you can take the string, tie a tight knot at one end, poke a hole on either side of a noodle and thread the string through it. Then poke a hole through the next pool noodle and continue until you reach the desired length. Tie a knot again and you're done! Repeat on the other side of the obtained mat.
Protection from hail – hack with full bags
Whether bags of potting soil, dog food, hay, wood chips or others - they are all perfect for insulating your car from hailstones. Depending on which variant you choose as hail protection for your car, you may need to additionally secure the bags. Those filled with potting soil or dog food are usually heavy enough not to need to be tied down. However, be careful when placing the heavy bags on your car so as not to accidentally dent the sheet metal yourself. The hood is particularly susceptible to this.
Or you can simply take garbage bags and partially fill them with soft objects. These can be empty PET bottles, pieces of Styrofoam, pieces of foam, fabric and the like. Then clip the bag into the car window and you will receive hail protection for the car, which specifically protects the windows.
All in one
Do you have a few of all of the above at home? No problem – just combine them! Put cardboard on the window, an air mattress on the roof, seat cushions on the hood or whatever other combination you can think of. Admittedly, your car will look really ridiculous afterwards. But what does it matter if it means you can effectively protect your vehicle from damage?
